Hatim al-Tai | |
|---|---|
 A page from Hatim al-Tai book includes a du'a for Ottoman Sultan Abdülaziz | |
| Born | Ḥātim bin ʿAbd Allāh bin Saʿd aṭ-Ṭāʾiyy Ha'il, Arabia |
| Died | c. 578 Tuwarin, Ha'il |
| Occupation | Poet, Knight, Chieftain |
| Language | Arabic |
| Nationality | Arab |
| Period | Pre-Islamic era |
| Genre | Poetry |
| Notable works | Qissa-e-Hatem-tai |
Hatim al-Tai (Arabic: حاتم الطائي, 'Hatim of the Tayy tribe'; died 578), full name Ḥātim bin ʿAbd Allāh bin Saʿd aṭ-Ṭāʾiyy (Arabic: حاتم بن عبد الله بن سعد الطائي) was an Arab knight, chieftain of the Tayyi tribe of Arabia, ruler of Shammar, and poet who lived in the last half of the sixth into the beginning of the seventh century.[1][2][3] Although he was considered a well-established poet in his time, today he is best known for his altruism.[4] Additionally, he is known to be a model of Arab manliness.[5]
Al-Tai is associated with the Lakhmid court in Hira, especially under its most famous king Al-Mundhir III ibn al-Nu'man.[6] Stories about his extreme generosity have made him an icon among Arabs up until today, as evident in the proverbial phrase "more generous than Hatim" (Arabic: أكرم من حاتم, romanized: ʾakram min Ḥātim). According to Arab writer and poet Ibn Abd Rabbih, he was one of three people who reached the highest point of generosity in the pre-Islamic era, the other two were Ka'b ibn Mama and Harim ibn Sinan al-Murri.[7] Al-Tai's generosity and chivalry have become proverbial not only in Arabic but also in Persian.[8]
His son was Adi ibn Hatim, who was a companion of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.[9]
- ^ van Arendonk, Cornelis (1987). E.J. Brill's First Encyclopaedia of Islam 1913-1936. E. J. Brill. p. 290. ISBN 9789004082656.
- ^ Koelbl, Susanne (15 September 2020). Behind the Kingdom's Veil: Inside the New Saudi Arabia Under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Mango Media. ISBN 9781642503456. Archived from the original on 7 October 2023. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
- ^ Gandhi, Menka (16 October 2004). The Complete Book of Muslim & Parsi Names. Penguin UK. ISBN 9788184750546. Archived from the original on 7 October 2023. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
- ^ "Arabia's Legendary Almsgiver Hatem al Tai - Destination KSA". 4 May 2015. Archived from the original on 14 May 2023. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
- ^ The Arabian Nights: Tales from a Thousand and One Nights. Random House Publishing. 26 August 2009. ISBN 9780307417015. Archived from the original on 23 January 2023. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
- ^ "ḤĀTEM ṬĀʾI". Encyclopaedia Iranica. ISSN 2330-4804. Archived from the original on 2023-05-14. Retrieved 2023-05-15.
- ^ Ibn `Abd Rabbih (Aḥmad ibn Muḥammad), Al-‘Iqd al-farīd
- ^ "ḤĀTEM ṬĀʾI". Encyclopaedia Iranica. ISSN 2330-4804. Archived from the original on 2023-05-14. Retrieved 2023-05-15.
- ^ The Living Prophet by Syed Sulaiman Nadvi. pp. 106